The Sunday Mail
Conventional clothing shops have lost ground to boutiques and informal traders due to the former’s failure to align their prices with those in the region.
Traditional clothing shops have been facing stiff competition from boutiques and cross boarder traders who have been importing clothes from countries like China, Tanzania, South Africa and Mozambique for resell at lower prices locally.
The influx translated into decline in sales for traditional clothing shops, with the likes of Greatermans eventually closing shop reportedly due to viability challenges.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said people who lost their jobs in the formal industry are the ones who have flooded the informal sector, further contributing to the former’s decline.
“The owners of these boutiques have now come to their senses that they have to realign their price models with those in the region so as to lure customers to their shops,” she said.
“The assumption is that the clothes in the informal sector are easily accessible and they then quickly bring them to the local market and the goods are cheaper to the consumers.”
The CCZ boss also said the reduction of prices in the formal sector shops is a clear indication that people don’t have money in their pockets to spend and the owners have now come to realise that their prices are too high as compared to others in the region.
“Reduction of prices in shops is a clear indication that the general populace does not have money and those with it don’t want to buy anything and would prefer to keep their money.”
A snap survey carried out by The Sunday Mail Extra in the CBD last week revealed that conventional clothing shops such as Edgars and Topics are either offering massive sales or have reduced prices significantly.
